Three Crew Members Confirmed Onboard UPS Flight 2976 in Louisville Crash
In Louisville, Kentucky, tragedy struck on the evening of November 4, 2025, when a UPS cargo plane identified as Flight 2976 crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The incident occurred around 5:15 p.m. local time, near the intersection of Grade Lane and Fern Valley Road, a busy industrial area just southeast of the airport.
The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter, was en route to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii. According to flight data, the plane reached only a brief altitude of around 175 feet before rapidly descending and crashing into multiple buildings. The impact sparked a massive fireball that sent thick black smoke billowing into the sky, visible for miles across Jefferson County.
Authorities confirmed that three crew members were onboard the aircraft when it went down. While their names have not yet been released pending notification of families, officials believe all three were UPS employees serving as the flight crew for the trans-Pacific route. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said in a press briefing that emergency teams were still working to confirm the condition of those onboard and any additional ground victims.
Witnesses described the horrifying scene as the jet struggled to gain altitude after takeoff. Several onlookers reported seeing flames coming from the aircraft’s left wing before it lost control. Within seconds, the plane struck an industrial building, triggering explosions and spreading fires through neighboring structures. “It sounded like a thunderclap, then a wave of heat hit us,” said one nearby worker. “You could feel it even from a block away.”
Emergency response was immediate and massive. Firefighters, airport emergency units, and Jefferson County crews rushed to the scene as the area was placed under a third-alarm fire response. Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for residents and businesses within a five-mile radius due to the heavy smoke and potential chemical exposure from burning materials.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear later confirmed that at least three people have passed and eleven others were injured in the disaster. Several of the injured were ground workers and individuals caught in nearby facilities when the fires broke out. Governor Beshear added that the toll might rise as crews continue to search through the wreckage.
UPS Airlines released a statement expressing sorrow and confirming that the company is cooperating fully with investigators. “Our deepest sympathies go out to our colleagues and their families during this difficult time,” the statement read. “We are working closely with authorities to determine the cause of this tragic event.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are leading the investigation. Preliminary findings suggest the aircraft may have suffered an engine failure or fuel system malfunction during takeoff. Investigators are examining reports of an onboard fire and reviewing maintenance records of the 34-year-old MD-11, which has a history of complex handling characteristics.
The crash caused extensive damage across the impact zone. Several warehouses and offices sustained major structural collapse, and firefighting efforts continued into the night to prevent flare-ups. Power outages were reported in surrounding neighborhoods, and portions of Grade Lane remain closed to the public.
Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport, which serves as the global UPS Worldport hub, temporarily suspended operations following the crash. The disruption affected dozens of cargo flights nationwide. UPS officials confirmed that contingency plans were activated to reroute shipments and minimize the impact on logistics operations.
Residents of Louisville have expressed grief and shock, as the city is home to thousands of UPS employees and their families. Community support groups, churches, and local businesses have already begun organizing vigils and assistance drives for affected families.
As of late Tuesday evening, the identities of the three crew members had not been made public. Recovery and identification efforts are ongoing, with federal investigators expected to release preliminary findings later in the week.
The Louisville cargo plane crash stands as one of the most devastating incidents in the city’s recent aviation history—one that has left a lasting mark on the UPS community, local responders, and the families of those who were onboard.